Abstract:
The objective of the GOCE User Toolbox Specifications study was to develop - in close collaboration with ESA's HPF effort - algorithms and input and output specification for the subsequent generation of a user toolbox that is required by the general science community for the exploitation of GOCE level 2 and ERS-ENVISAT altimetry. The purpose of the study was accordingly to:

-Consolidate the User Toolbox requirements.-Carry out a scientific trade off study to select the toolbox processing and viewing functions.-Produce a Toolbox output specification document.-Produce an algorithm specification document which details the necessary level for coding.-Produce a Toolbox architectural design document mapping the required functionality and interfaces such as auxiliary data.

As part of the toolbox requirements consolidation a variety of geophysical studies associated with the Earth's gravity were found to use information in form of geoid heights, gravity anomalies or deflections of the vertical. Those quantities may be represented in the nodes along a profile, in a grid or in discretely located points. Associated with such quantities error covariance information may be needed. The primary oceanography variable of interest to be provided by a toolbox is the dynamic topography resulting from the difference between altimetric measurements and the geoid model. Altimetric MSSH fields would be auxiliary input data set fields from which a consistently filtered mean dynamic topography need to be computed by the toolbox. The commonly used quantity in solid earth studies is gravity anomalies and associated error information. Hence, the main required functionalities are covered by general functionalities described above. However, on land the quantities may be needed on the surface of the earth.

GUTS was supported by ESA with collaborators from many European countries.